Sata Considers Contesting on PF Ticket

Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Chilufya Sata is considering contesting the forthcoming Presidential elections in 2011 on the PF ticket, according to court documents obtained by the Watchdog.

PF leader in the writ of summons filed in the Lusaka High Court by his lawyers Pikiti and Company, said Sata is a leader of the largest opposition party in Zambia and intends to take his party to the general and presidential polls. The summons was filed in a case in which PF leader Sata sued former PF general secretary Edward Mumbi and is claiming damages for defamation.

Sata’s claim, in which he is demanding exemplary damages, read: “[Sata] suffered as the plaintiff is a leader of the leading opposition political party with firm expectations of the said plaintiff to get his party to a general and presidential elections that could result in his taking reign of power to lead the nation and the country of Zambia as his constituency is the entire Republic of Zambia, thence, the defendant has been attempting to darken and destroy the plaintiff politically and morally by defaming him to a worst exaggeration ever,” Sata’s claim read in part.

Sata’s affidavit, which was filed three weeks ago, does not refer to the opposition pact, which is the grouping of the PF and the United Party for National Development (UPND) with an intention of fielding one candidate. PF insiders also confirmed that Sata is determined to contest the polls on PF because he feels it is stronger than the UPND, which has reduced support base in the nation.